Improvement in paper-fasteners



UNITED STATESY PATENT OEEIGE.

EDWARD A. G. ROULSTONE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMI-ROVEM ENT IN PAPEiR-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,516, dated October29, 1878; application filed October 14, 1878.

. opposite directions from each other upon the under side of saidpapers, the doubled end of the folded strip being provided with asuitable button-head, which bears upon the front side of the papers andpresents a finished appearance.

invention consists in the peculiar construction of the fastening, ashereinafter described, whereby I obtain strength, durability, neatness,and cheapness.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure l, asection of a paper-fastener made as called for by my invention. Fig. 2of such drawings is a view of the bent strip of metal with the crosspiece or head which confines it to the cap or button, while Fig. 3isasection of the same. Fig. 4 is a view ot' the cup which constitutes thecap or head of the fastener. Fig. 5 is a view of the strip of metalbefore bending. Fig. 6 is a view of the cross bar or piece whichconfines the bend of the strip within the head.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a narrow strip, A, of ductilemetal, of a proper width for the prongs of the fastener, and I round orpoint its ends, as shown at a, though this is not absolutely essential,and I then fold this strip flatwise at or about its center, and inclosein the bend or fold a a transverse bar or piece, b, the prongs e c ofthe strip A, below said cross-piece, being lapped closely together, asshown in the accompanying drawings, and constituting practically oneprong, which will readily enter a single slit or hole in the papers ormaterials to be bound or fastened together.

B in the drawings represents a shallow circular cup, of an internaldiameter about equal to the length of the cross-piece b, and to completethe fastener I inclose the said cross-piece and the bend of the strip Atogether in the cup B and turnV the edge or wall of such cup inwardbelow the cross-piece and so as to tightly inclose and adhere to thelatter, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

Tobind papers or other materials together with my fastener, a slit ismade in such material, and the prongs c c passed together, as one,through such slit, and turned over in opposite directions from eachother upon the under side of said material, the button or head Bbringing up against the front side of such material.

My fastening is strong, neat, durable, and can be furnished at low cost.

I am aware that for many years fastenings for attaching ornaments tobridles, dto., have been in extensive use in which a thin strip ofductile metal is folded to provide two prongs, which are lapped closelytogether to enter one hole and turn down upon the inside of thematerial, while the bend of the strip is inserted and secured within acup-head; and I am also aware that, later, various patents have beenissued in the United States for improvements` in fastenings of thischaracter, notably among them the following: No. 162,183, April 20,1875, No. 199,085, January 8, 1878. I therefore lay no claim broadly toa paper-fastenin g composed of a thin strip of metal folded and lappedto produce prongs and provided with a head, as stated; but

I claim as my invention the following:

A paper-fastener composed of a bent Istrip ot' metal, a cross-pieceinclosed in the fold of the strip, and a cap or head inclosin g thecrosspiece and the bend of the strip, substantially as explained.

E. A. G. ROULSTONE.

Witnesses M. BAILEY, W. E. GHAFFEE.

